Tyre building drum with turn-up apparatus

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a tire building drum. The drum has a central axis and is configured for turning up a turn-up portion of a tire component about a bead core. The drum includes a first support member, which is disposed radially about the central axis and is configured to operably support a portion of the tire component and the bead core. A set of arms is disposed about the central axis. The arms have a first end operably associated with the first support member and a second end spaced apart from the first support member along the central axis and pivotably associated with the tire building drum. Each arm is movable from a resting position to a working position. A set of bead support members is disposed about the central axis. The bead support members have a support portion. When the arms are in the working position and the bead support portions are in the support position, the support portions cooperate with the ends of the arms to support the turn-up portion of the tire-component therebetween.

[0001] The present invention relates to a tyre building drum with turn-up apparatus for building an unvulcanized tyre with tyre components of rubber or having reinforcement cords and two bead cores with high bead filling strips, said tyre building drum having a central axis, two ring segments placed around the axis and spaced from each other each to support a bead core, drum segments placed around the axis and on the outside of each of the ring segments, which drum segments define a cylindrical surface to support tyre components, means to radially expand that part of the tyre components which is situated between the ring segments, the tyre building drum having on both sides outside the ring segments a first set of axially extending, hingeable arms, each arm having an end directed at the ring segment, said end having a roller, means to axially and radially move each first set of arms from a first position in which the rollers of a first set of arms form a virtually closed ring to a second position in order to press the expanded part of the tyre components which is situated between the ring segments to the part of the tyre components which is situated outside the ring segments.

[0002] Such a tyre building drum with turn-up apparatus is already known from British patent specification 1.532.960. This known tyre building drum comprises two sets of arms, one set on one side outside of the ring segments and the other set on the other side outside of the ring segments. When moving the arms from the first position to the second position, rollers are brought at a greater distance from the axis, as a result of which the rollers are distanced from each other and thus do not form a virtually closed ring any more. Because the second position is a little distance further from the central axis of the tyre building drum than the first position, the part of the tyre components situated outside the ring segments is not fully pressed over the total height to the part of the tyre components situated between the ring segments, and furthermore the ends of the arms come to stand at a distance from each other so that an incomplete circumferential pressure by the rollers is obtained. In order to prevent an incomplete attachment of the tyre components, which may be detrimental to the quality of the tyre to be produced, a sleeve of rubber is applied around the arms. Such a sleeve of rubber however, has a limited life span.

[0003] The object of present invention is to provide a tyre building drum with turn-up apparatus for building an unvulcanized tyre with tyre components of rubber or having reinforcement cords and two bead cores with high bead filling strips, wherein without the use of a rubber sleeve the parts of the tyre components can be pressed to one another over their full circumference and their full height, so that the final quality of the tyre to be produced is improved.

[0004] For this purpose a tyre building drum with turn-up apparatus of the kind described above is according to the invention characterized in that each first set of arms contains a second set of axially extending, hingeable arms, each arm having an end directed at the ring segment, said end having a roller, each roller of an arm of the second set being situated between two adjacent arms of said first set and being situated on the side of the rollers of the arms of said first set which side is turned away from the ring segments, and that means are provided to axially and radially move each second set of arms from a first position, in which the rollers of a second set of arms form a virtually closed ring to a second position in order to press the expanded part of the tyre components which is situated between the ring segments to the part of the tyre components which is situated outside the ring segments. Because the rollers of the arms of the second set are situated between the arms of the first set, at least almost the entire circumference of the tyre component parts is pressed to one another in the second position of the rollers of both sets, as a result of which an at least almost complete attachment of the tyre components is obtained.

[0005] A preferred embodiment of a tyre building drum with turn-up apparatus according to present invention is characterized in that the means to axially and radially move each first set of arms and the means to axially and radially move each second set of arms are formed by the same means. In this way the turn-up apparatus of the tyre building drum cannot only be manufactured in a more compact design, but also moving the sets of arms from the first position to the second position is synchronized in a simple way.

[0006] A further preferred embodiment of a tyre building drum with turn-up apparatus according to the invention is characterized in that means are provided for laterally supporting the two bead cores with high bead filling strips, wherein the means are situated between the ring segments and preferably are pivotable from a non-working position to a working position. In this way it is prevented that when the arms are going from the first position to the second position, the arms push the bead cores with high bead filling strips from their places. When the means are pivotable from a non-working position to a working position, the normal working of the tyre building drum is not detrimentally influenced.

[0007] By way of example, some embodiments of a tyre building drum with turn-up apparatus according to the invention will be described on the basis of the drawing. Therein:

[0008]FIG. 1 schematically shows a longitudinal cross section of an tyre building drum with turn-up apparatus according to the invention, the arms being in the first position,

[0009]FIG. 2 schematically shows a longitudinal cross section of an tyre building drum with turn-up apparatus according to the invention, the arms being in the second position and the part of the tyre components which is situated between the ring segments, being expanded,

[0010]FIG. 3 schematically shows a longitudinal cross section of an alternative embodiment of the tyre building drum with turn-up apparatus according to the invention, wherein in the left half of the figure the arms are shown in the first position and in the right half of the figure the arms are shown in the second position,

[0011]FIG. 4 schematically shows in perspective one set of arms in a first position and some parts of the turn-up apparatus of the tyre building drum according to the invention in order to exemplify the three-dimensional configuration, and

[0012]FIG. 5 schematically shows in perspective one set of arms in a second position and some parts of the turn-up apparatus of the tyre building drum according to the invention in order to exemplify the three-dimensional configuration.

[0013]FIG. 1 schematically shows a longitudinal cross section of the tyre building drum with turn-up apparatus according to the invention for building an unvulcanized tyre. Such an unvulcanized tyre contains tyre components of rubber or having reinforcement cords (of which in FIG. 1 two, 1 and 2 are shown) and two bead cores 3 and 4 with high bead filling strips. The number and kind of tyre components are dependent on the final tyre to be produced, and the possible assemblies and construction are sufficiently known to an expert, so a more detailed discussion of this will be omitted.

[0014] The tyre building drum has a central axis 5. Around the axis 5 and spaced from each other two ring segments 6 and 7 are situated, each to support a corresponding bead core 3 respectively 4. Around the axis 5 and on the outside of each ring segment 6, 7 drum segments 11 and 12 are situated, which drum segments define a cylindrical surface to support the tyre components 1, 2. The ring segments 6, 7 can also serve to support certain tyre components, such as relatively narrow reinforcement strips.

[0015]FIG. 1 shows an example of a tyre building drum, in this case also with drum segments 8, 9 and 10 between the ring segments. As already known there are means (not represented in the figure) to radially move at least a part of the drum segments (particularly drum segment 8), and means (not represented in the figure) to—for instance by way of air pressure—radially expand that part of the tyre components which is situated between the ring segments 3, 4.

[0016] The tyre building drum on both sides outside the ring segments 6, 7 has a first set of axially extending, hingeable arms 11 respectively 12. Each arm 11, 12 has an end directed at the ring segment 6, respectively 7, said end having a roller 13, respectively 14. As already known there are means (15, FIG. 2) to axially and radially move each first set of arms 11, 12 from a first position (represented in FIG. 1) in which the rollers 13, 14 of a first set of arms 11, 12 form a virtually closed ring to a second position (represented in FIG. 2) to press the expanded part of the tyre components which is situated between the ring segments 6, 7 to the part of the tyre components which is situated outside the ring segments 6, 7.

[0017] In the following the feature of the tyre building drum which is essential for the invention will be further gone into, which is the turn-up apparatus, and other components of the tyre building drum, which are sufficiently known to the expert, will not be described in detail.

[0018] According to the invention a tyre building drum with turn-up apparatus is provided in which each first set of arms (11 or 12) contains a second set of axially extending hingeable arms (17 respectively 19, see FIGS. 2 and 4). Each arm 17, 19 of each second set has an end directed at the ring segment 6 respectively 7, said end having a roller 16 respectively 18. Each roller 16, 18 of an arm 17, 19 of each second set is situated between two adjacent arms 11, 12 of the said first set, each roller 16, 18 of the second set being situated on the side of the rollers 13, 14 of the arms 11, 12 of said first set, which side is turned away from the ring segments 6, 7.

[0019] Furthermore there are means, preferably the means 15, to axially and radially move each second set of arms from a first position in which the rollers 16, 18 of the second set of arms 17, 19 form a virtually closed ring to a second position in order to press the expanded part of the tyre components which is situated between the ring segments 6, 7 to the part of the tyre components which is situated outside the ring segments 6, 7. The means to axially and radially move the set of arms preferably comprise flexible bands, arranged around the set of arms in order to press the arms from the second position back to the first position.

[0020] Because the rollers 16, 18 of the arms 17, 19 of the second set are situated between the rollers 13, 14 of the arms 11, 12 of the first set, in the second position of the rollers of both sets almost the entire circumference of the tyre component parts is pressed to one another (as represented in FIGS. 2 and 5) as a result of which an almost complete attachment of the tyre components is obtained.

[0021]FIG. 3 schematically shows a longitudinal cross section 5 (only the upper half is shown, the lower half is symmetric) of an alternative known embodiment of the tyre building drum with turn-up apparatus according to the invention for building an unvulcanized tyre. Such an unvulcanized tyre consists of tyre components of rubber or having reinforcement cords, of which in the right half of FIG. 3, two, 1′ and 2′, are shown, and two bead cores with high bead filling strips, of which only one 4′ is shown. The tyre building drum has a central axis 5′. Around the axis 5′ and spaced from each other two ring segments 6′ and 7′ are situated, each to support a corresponding bead core. Ring segments 6′ and 7′ serve to support the tyre components 1′ and 2′. Initially two sets of arms 11′, 17′ and 12′, 19′ when they are in the first position are used for supporting the part of the tyre components that is outside the ring segments. Each arm 11′, 12′ (17′, 19′) has an end directed at the ring segment 6′, respectively 7′, said end having a roller 13′, respectively 14′ (16′, 18′). Each set of arms can be moved from a first position (shown in the left half of FIG. 3) in which the rollers of a set of arms form a virtually closed ring to a second position (shown in the right half of FIG. 3) in order to press the expanded part of the tyre components that is between the ring segments 6′, 7′ to the part of the tyre components which is outside the ring segments 6′, 7′.

[0022] Each roller 16′, 18′ of an arm 17′, 19′ of each second set is situated between two adjacent arms 11′, 12′ of said first set, each roller 16′, 18′ of the second set being situated on the side of the rollers 13′, 14′ of the arms 11′, 12′ of said first set, which side is turned away from the ring segments 6′, 7′.

[0023] Because the rollers 16′, 18′ of the arms 17′, 19′ of the second set are situated between the rollers 13′, 14′ of the arms 11′, 12′ of the first set, in the second position of the rollers of both sets, almost the entire circumference of the tyre component parts are pressed to one another, wherein also without the use a sleeve of rubber an almost complete attachment of tyre component parts is obtained.

[0024] Furthermore means 20, 21 (FIG. 3) are provided to laterally support said two bead cores with high bead filling strips of which one 4′ is shown in FIG. 3, in which the means are situated between the ring segments 6′, 7′. Said means, when in working position, prevent that the arms when going from a first position to a second position, from unwontedly pushing the bead cores with high bead filling strips from the ring segments. Preferably the means 20, 21 for laterally supporting the bead cores with high bead filling strips are pivotable from a non-working position to a working position. In this way the means for laterally supporting the bead cores with high bead filling strips do not impede the normal working of the tyre building drum, and moreover can help supporting the tyre components in the starting position. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A tire building drum, the drum having a central axis and configured for turning up a turn-up portion of a tire component about a bead core, comprising: a first support member, the support member disposed radially about the central axis and configured to operably support a portion of the tire component and the bead core; a set of arms disposed about the central axis, the arms having a first end operably associated with the first support member and a second end spaced apart from the first support member along the central axis and pivotably associated with the tire building drum, each arm being movable from a resting position to a working position; and a set of bead support members disposed about the central axis, the bead support members having a support portion, each bead support member having a support position, wherein, when the arms are in the working position and the bead support portions are in the support position, the support portions cooperate with the ends of the arms to support the turn-up portion of the tire-component therebetween.
 2. The tire building drum of claim 1, further comprising: a second support member, the second support member disposed radially about the central axis and configured to operably support a second portion of the tire component and a second bead core; a second set of arms disposed about the central axis, the second arms having a first end operably associated with the second support member and a second end spaced apart from the second support member along the central axis and pivotably associated with the tire building drum, the second arms being movable between a resting position and a working position; and a set of second bead support members disposed about the central axis, the second bead support members having a support portion, each beach support member having a support position, wherein, when the second arms are in the working position and the second bead support portions are in the support position, the support portions cooperate with the ends of the second arms to support a second turned up portion of the tire component therebetween.
 3. The tire building drum of claim 2, further comprising expansion means to radially expand a portion of the tire component disposed between the first and second support members.
 4. The tire building drum of claim 2, wherein the first and second sets of bead support members are disposed between the first and second support members.
 5. The tire building drum of claim 2, wherein the first end of the arms of the first and second sets comprises a roller.
 6. The tire building drum of claim 2, wherein the bead support members of the first and second sets are each movable between a resting position and the support position.
 7. The tire building drum of claim 6, wherein the bead support members of the first and second sets of bead support members each have a pivot portion pivotably associated with the tire building drum.
 8. The tire building drum of claim 7, wherein the first and second support members are movable between a resting position and a working position, and wherein the bead support members of the first and second sets of bead support members are configured to move in unison with the first and second support members, respectively.
 9. The tire building drum of claim 1, wherein the first ends of different arms are disposed at different radial distances from the central axis of the tire building drum.
 10. A tire building drum, the drum having a central axis and configured for turning up a turn-up portion of a tire component about a bead core, comprising: a first support member, the support member disposed radially about the central axis and configured to operably support a portion of the tire component and the bead core; expansion means to radially expand a portion of the tire component disposed between the first and second support members; a set of arms disposed about the central axis, the arms having a first end operably associated with the first support member and a second end spaced apart from the first support member along the central axis and pivotably associated with the tire building drum, each arm being movable from a resting position to a working position; and a set of bead support members disposed about the central axis, the bead support members having a support end operably associated with the support member and a second end pivotably associated with the tire building drum, wherein, as the expansion means radially expands the portion of the tire component, the support members and the arms pivot to support the tire component therebetween.
 11. The tire building drum of claim 10, wherein the arms and the support members pivot about opposite sides of the first support member.
 12. The tire building drum of claim 10, wherein the first ends of different arms are disposed at different radial distances from the central axis of the tire building drum.
 13. A tire building drum, the drum having a central axis and configured for turning up a turn-up portion of a tire component about a bead core, comprising: a first support member, the support member disposed radially about the central axis and configured to operably support a portion of the tire component and the bead core; a set of arms disposed about the central axis, the arms having a first end operably associated with the first support member and a second end spaced apart from the first support member along the central axis and pivotably associated with the tire building drum, each arm being movable from a resting position to a working position; and a set of bead support members disposed about the central axis, the bead support members having a support end operably associated with the support member and a second end pivotably associated with the tire building drum, each support member being movable from a resting position to a support position, wherein, when the arms are in the working position and the bead support members are in the support position, the support ends of the support members cooperate with the ends of the arms to support the turn-up portion of the tire-component therebetween.
 14. The tire building drum of claim 13, wherein the arms and the support members pivot about opposite sides of the first support member.
 15. The tire building drum of claim 13, wherein the first ends of different arms are disposed at different radial distances from the central axis of the tire building drum. 